Fries



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. W. ,JEFFRIES. LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

No. 439,157. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. W. JBFPRIES. LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

,15'7. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS VALTER JEFFRIES, OF SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,157, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed Augus 10, 1889- Serial No. 320,350. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS WALTER J EF- FRIES, of Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, have invented Improved LifeSaving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of lifesaving apparatus which can be carried on board ship and which at the same time can be utilized for oth er useful purposes. It is so constructed that it does not occupy a large quantity of space, as is done by many similar apparatuses, which might be utilized for other purposes. It is of a very light and compact form and will not when being used as a life buoy have any tendency to capsize.

Among the many uses other than that of a life-buoy to which I may put my apparatus are those of a mattress for bunks, a low reclining-chair, or a chair of ordinary height,

either for cabin or deck use; and in order that my invention be the better understood I now proceed to describe the same in relation .to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had to the letters marked thereon.

Like letters referring to like parts in the various figures Figure 1 shows my apparatus in the form of a life-buoy in perspective. Fig. 2 is a plan of my apparatus when used as a mattress. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of my apparatus when used as a reclining-chair. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 show various views of the paddle when opened and closed. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the eye or loop in which the paddle is held when used for propelling the buoy. Fig. 9 shows a person supported by the buoy. Fig. 10 is a side View of the buoy, showing the rope attachments to the sack or guard. Fig. 11 is an end view of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 isa plan of the bottom of the sack or guard.

My invention consists in the construction of a mattress or series of mattresses A, having a cover of stout canvas or similar ma terial, the inside of which is stuffed with cork shavings or other suitable stuffing.

The complete mattress may be composed of segments, preferably four in number, hinged together by hinges B, made of double canvas, metal, or other suitable material in such a manner that the mattress A can be opened and extended at full length, as shown in Fig. 2. The segments of the mattress may-be folded upon the top of one another for stowing away. Each segment of the mattress has a recess 0 formed in one side of it, and when the four segments are placed in an extended position, as shown in Fig. 2, each pair of segments have their recesses abutting to one another, so forming two holes through the mattress.

When used as a lifesaving apparatus, the segments are folded one upon the other in pairs, as shown in Fig. 1, having a hole D through the center. These various parts are secured together in whatever position they may occupy by means of buckles E or other equivalent fastening attachments upon the sides of the mattresses.

Upon the under side of the life-buoy are arranged a series of rings E, to which can be attached by means of cords G or otherwise a sack H, made of canvas or other suitable material, as shown in Fig. 10.

The lower end of the sack or guard H has a rope or ropes F securely fastened to its corners and edges, so as to strengthen the sack, in order that it shall maintain the weight of the person within it. The ends of these ropes are furnished with eyes or other equivalent means of attachment. The top of the sack H projects through the hole D to the top of the surface of the buoy, to which it is secured by the buttons J or by other equivalent means of attachment, and has upon one side of it an opening K, which can be fastened up by means of buttoning the sides L of the sack flapwise. The object of this is that the person about to use the apparatus places his feet through the hole D of the buoy, one foot resting on the bottom of the sack and the other being placed through the side aperture K and resting on the ground. He then raises the buoy around him and places a strap M, which is fixed across the hole D, over his shoulder. He can then walk with the buoy suspended from his shoulders to any convenient spot from which to jump into the water. His leg which is outside of the sack can be withdrawn within the sack and the flap buttoned up either before he jumps or when he reaches the water. Suitable rings N are provided on the upper surface of the buoy, by which persons, especially in the case of aged people, females, or children, can be lowered into the water. Vhen once afloat, the strap M can be removed from over the shoulder and allowed to drop down, so as to form a seat, as shown in Fig. 9. Upon the upper edge of the buoy suitable rope or other attachments O are arranged, in order to provide means for propelling the buoy by paddles P, as shown in Fig. 9. The paddle may pass through an eye Q, attached to the rope O.

The paddles used in conjunction with the apparatus I prefer to make of a novel construction, namely: The two vanes R R are attached to the body of the paddle P by hinges S, so that when spread open in an extended position,as shown in Fig. 7, they abut against a suitable support T, such support having its side opposite to that of the vanes of pointed form, as shown in Fig. 7. In order to oifer as little resistance to the water as possible during the forward movement of the lower end of the paddle, the vanes R R are closed toward one another in a backward direction, as shown in Fig. 6, so allowing the paddle to pass through the water with as small resistance as possible. Upon the reverse motion the vanes are opened automatically by the movement of the paddle, and their extended surface thus forms a considerable resistance by which the buoy is propelled forward. In order to pack this paddleinto as smallaspace as possible, I hinge the lower part T to the upper part or handle Vby a bolt V, and the two parts are secured in a rigid position to one another by suitable rope or strap attachments 7. The paddle is suspended from the buoy at a right height by a suspending-cord X, attached to the rope O'on the buoy and to the eyebolt V on the paddle.

The method of using the paddle is, as shown in Fig. 9, similar to that of rowing with an oar, except that the end of the paddle is not lifted out of the water at each stroke, or is not feathered by turning the paddle.

When the apparatus is not in use as alifebuoy, the paddles, sack or guard, ropes, and other attachments can be stowed away within the hole or holes in the mattress, either when used in a bunk or as a chair or when stowed away.

When the apparatus is being used as a mattress ora deck-chair, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the hole or holes D are covered up by means of the canvas flap y, sewed on one edge to the body of the mattress and buttoned on the three edges, or which may equivalently be buttoned on all four, so as to be easily removable when occasion arises.

\Vhen the apparatus is used as a life-buoy, the flap can be allowed to hang downward, as shown in Fig. 11.

I provide suitable recesses Z in the mattress, within which can be stored provisionboxes containing liquid food and stimulants,

such boxes being provided with an india-rubber pipe having a mouth-piece and screwcapsule attached thereto for the purpose of withdrawing the food by suction.

\Vhen the apparatus is used as a deck or reclining chair, the back thereof is supported and regulated at the proper inclination by means of straps of canvas, leather, or other suitable material attached to the upper part of the mattress, as shown in Fig. 3.

In combination with my life-saving appa ratus I provide a buoy-light with suitable protect-ing capsule to prevent moistening of the wick during the launching of the buoy.

Having fully described myinvention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A life-saving apparatus consisting of a series of mattresses in pairs, each mattress having a recess inside of it, so that when each pair of mattresses are in their extended form the recesses abutting to one another will form a hole through the pair, and a sack or guard H, attached to the said mattress by suspending attachments G E and fastenings J and adapted to be supported in line with and below the said hole, substantially as set forth.

2. A life-saving apparatus consisting of a series of mattresses in pairs, each mattress having a recess inside of it, so that when each pair of mattresses are in their extended form the recesses abutting to one another will form a hole through the pair, and a sack or guard H, attached to the said mattress by suspending attachments G E and fasteningsJ and adapted to be supported in line with and below the said hole, the mattresses being secured together by hinges, substantially as set forth.

3. In a life-saving apparatus, the combination, with the mattresses arranged in pairs, of buckles E, hinges B around the sides of the mattresses, and straps A, each end of which is attached to a separate mattress, whereby the position of the mattresses is altered and retained relatively to one another, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

4. In combination with a life-saving'apparatus having suitable rings Q and attachments X arranged around the edges of the mattresses for holding the paddles during the propelling of such apparatus, a paddle P, having a bolt 0r hinge V in the handle V and suitable cords W or other equivalent fastenings upon the same for making the said handle rigid, and vanes R, hinged at S to the lower end of the paddle and abutting when extended on a suitable support T, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS W'ALTER JEFFRIES. Witnesses:

JOHN C. FELL, REGINALD WILLIAM JAMES.

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